This is the blog of the online CRBR, a forum for people who work on Belgian refugees during WW1 (UK, FR, NL...) and for people who want to share their personal history.

Sunday, 23 February 2014

BBC's World War 1 At Home - Belgian refugees on at 24 February

Belgian refugees take centre stage on first day of BBC's WW1atHome

The outcome of the BBC's team on the Belgian refugees can be found on
- a BBC press office chunk on the Belgian refugee piece, available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01s945q
- a full version on Monday 24 February at around 1405 GMT on BBC London 94.9
- a television news segment, shot in Twickenham, will be included in the 6.30pm BBC London News, on BBC 1
Many, many thanks to David, Kulwant, Rita and David!

The context of the BBC's World War 1 At Home and its many invaluable stories can be found in the words of the AHRC, who is supporting this huge effort.

"The refugees housed in London’s Earls Court,
the music hall performer who recruited for the War effort, the German
POWs in Tipperary, Cardiff’s Land Girls and the Glasgow Rent Strikes are
just some of the local stories from the global conflict that was World
War One.

Starting on Monday February 24, World War One at Home will
begin broadcasting the first of 1400 stories across all BBC local radio
stations and regional television in England and the Channel Islands, and
on BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland, and at www.bbc.co.uk/ww1.

World War One At Home, a UK-wide project,
will broadcast over a thousand powerful stories throughout 2014 and 2015
- all linked to specific places across the country - in a way never
told before.

This unique broadcasting event will uncover
surprising stories about familiar neighbourhoods where the wounded were
treated, crucial front line supplies were made, major scientific
developments happened, prisoners of war were held and where heroes are
buried.

All BBC Local Radio stations across England
will broadcast a World War One At Home story at 8.15am each weekday
morning, and at various times throughout the day from Monday 24 February
to Friday 28 February. More World War One At Home stories will be
broadcast in April and through the rest of the year.

BBC London reveals how a make-shift refugee centre in Earls Court became
home for thousands of fleeing Belgium nationals. Of the 250,000
refugees fleeing their homes following Germany’s invasion of Belgium in
August 1914, many came through ports such as Folkestone and Tilbury
before moving to other parts of the British Isles. In London, they were
processed in huge encampments – including Earls Court and Alexandra
Palace - or they were housed with families across London.

BBC regional television news programmes in
England will broadcast a World War One At Home story each weekday from
24 – 28 February at 6.30pm on BBC One. Many of the stories will feature
never before seen footage of life on the Home Front."

The above is taken and edited from the relevant page via the AHRC. (live online 18 February 2014).